Reduced incidence of cardiovascular events in hyper-Lp(a) patients on lipoprotein apheresis. The G.I.L.A. (Gruppo Interdisciplinare Aferesi Lipoproteica) pilot study.

Background: Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is the elective therapy for homozygous and other forms of Familial Hypercholesterolemia, Familial Combined Hypercholesterolemia, resistant/intolerant to lipid lowering drugs, and hyper-lipoproteinemia(a). Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] has been classified as the most prevalent genetic risk factor for coronary artery disease and aortic valve stenosis.

Aim: Our multicenter retrospective study has the aim to analyze the incidence of adverse cardiovascular events (ACVE) before and during the LA treatment, in subjects with elevated level of Lp(a) (>60 mg/dL) [hyper-Lp(a)] and chronic ischemic heart disease.

Gender-Specific Association of Desacylated Ghrelin with Subclinical Atherosclerosis in the Metabolic Syndrome.

Objective: Ghrelin, a gastric hormone with pleiotropic effects modulates vascular function and may influence atherosclerosis. Plasma ghrelin is reduced in the metabolic syndrome (MS), which is also characterized by early atherosclerosis. Ghrelin circulates in acylated (AG) and desacylated (DAG) forms.

HELP LDL apheresis reduces plasma pentraxin 3 in familial hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a key component of the humoral arm of innate immunity, is secreted by vascular cells in response to injury, possibly aiming at tuning arterial activation associated with vascular damage. Severe hypercholesterolemia as in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) promotes vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis; low-density lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis is currently the treatment of choice to reduce plasma lipids in FH. HELP LDL apheresis affects pro- and antiinflammatory biomarkers, however its effects on PTX3 levels are unknown.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver and metabolic syndrome in Italy: results from a multicentric study of the Italian Arteriosclerosis society.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with all the components of metabolic syndrome (MS) and might to be considered an additional component of MS itself. The Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis (SISA) in 2005 started a research project aimed to study the NAFLD, using ultrasound (US), in nondiabetic MS subjects matching at least one of the ATP III criteria for HDL-C or triglycerides [TG]. Prevalence of US-NAFLD and its associated risk factors and prevalence of hypertransaminasemia and its possible determinants were evaluated.

[Dyslipidemia: news in diagnosis and drug therapy].

Plasma lipid levels are to a large extent determined by genetic factors. In its more extreme forms this is manifested as familial hyperlipidemias, which are an important cause of premature coronary heart disease. It has been demonstrated that rigorous treatment of familial forms reduces the burden of ischemic heart disease.

Circulating pentraxin 3 levels are higher in metabolic syndrome with subclinical atherosclerosis: evidence for association with atherogenic lipid profile.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by increased cardiovascular risk. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), an acute phase protein, is involved in atherosclerosis. No information is available on PTX3 plasma concentrations in metabolic syndrome and on its associations with metabolic alterations and subclinical atherosclerosis.

The plasma concentration of Lpa-I:A-II particles as a predictor of the inflammatory response in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between plasma HDL at admission and the extent of the inflammatory response during an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), and to analyse structural HDL changes during STEMI as related to the extent of inflammation.

Methods And Results: CRP and IL-6 were monitored for 96h in 45 patients with STEMI. Plasma apoA-II and LpA-I:A-II levels at admission, but not HDL cholesterol or other HDL-related biomarkers, were associated with the extent of the inflammatory response during STEMI, as indicated by the positive correlations with CRP AUC (apoA-II: F=7.

Relationships between desacylated and acylated ghrelin and insulin sensitivity in the metabolic syndrome.

Context: Metabolic syndrome shows clustered metabolic abnormalities with major roles for insulin resistance and obesity. Ghrelin is a gastric hormone whose total plasma concentration (T-Ghr) is associated positively with insulin sensitivity and is reduced in obesity. Ghrelin circulates in acylated (A-Ghr) and desacylated (D-Ghr) forms, but their potential differential associations with insulin resistance and whether they are differentially altered in obesity remain undefined.

Production of polyacrylamide gradient gel for lipoprotein electrophoretic separation.

Background: Small LDL are associated with risk of coronary heart disease. Gradient gel electrophoresis for LDL separation is not a simple method and high-quality non-denaturing gradient gels are lacking.

Methods: In this paper, we describe a method for the preparation of a polyacrylamide gel system that consists of an upper linear gradient gel (1.